FAQ

The Columb Barracks Project is the working title for the lands outlined in the map to the left. Columb Barracks is situated within the urban settlement of Mullingar, 800m west of the main street and 500m from Mullingar train station. The site of 9.9 hectares has good access to educational, community and retail facilities, as well as public transport provision in the form of multiple bus services and the Train Station.

An Advisory Group was established in January 2021 to provide an opportunity for key partners to collaborate and to advise the LDA in developing a vision for the regeneration of Columb Barracks. This vision is to create a new high quality sustainable urban neighbourhood with the existing protected structures at its heart. The Advisory Group have identified five key themes to inform the regeneration plan and support the potential for enterprise and innovation, education and training , community facilities, cultural and heritage uses, public amenity spaces and climate resilient low- carbon housing across a mix of dwelling types, size and tenure. It aims to support a construction industry wide approach on modern methods of construction, deep retrofit and adaptive reuse methodologies.

Columb Barracks is a unique site in Mullingar Town and one that presents great opportunity, but also significant commercial challenges. Working with Westmeath County Council, Enterprise Ireland, The Mullingar Chamber of Commerce, The Longford & Westmeath Education & training Board, the Westmeath Public Participation Network and the local community and other key stakeholders, the LDA is determined to ensure the regeneration of this key historic site.

The LDA are a commercial, State-sponsored body that has been created to coordinate land within State control for more optimal uses where appropriate, with a focus on the provision of housing.

The LDA will improve the way the housing market functions by:

• Working with State bodies and Local Authorities to make more effective use of State lands, providing a stable, sustainable supply of land for housing.
• Improving the planning system to facilitate State lands being used for housing.
• Acquiring and developing land in a selective, targeted way that boosts housing supply.
• Delivering rental market initiatives that provide affordable mass-market tenure.
• Investing in research and innovation to identify new and better ways to deliver new homes.
• Providing high-level expertise underpinned by robust governance.
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We are at the very early introductory Communications phase of this project where we are  consulting with all stakeholders and the local community. Following this a full report will be developed on the consultation and the Advisory Group will then decide the next steps and a potential timeline.

At this stage there are no plans developed as consultation must take place first  with all stakeholders and public.

We are very keen to hear from as many people as possible who are interested in this site. Our website has a get involved page with a survey, communication channel details ( email, post and phone) to engage with the Community Consultation Team.

We are happy to provide any information needed by post, and if anyone would like the information they can write to us or phone us:

Postal address:

Columb Barracks Project
Land Development Agency
2nd Floor, Ashford House
Tara Street, Dublin 2.
Dublin – D02 VX67

Phone No.:

(01) 410 1723

Yes. We are at the very early introductory Communications phase of this project where we are  consulting with all stakeholders and the local community. We will be working with the core partners on the Advisory group and all local elected representatives  who have very strong community connections and are part of the local network. We will also aim to reach out to local neighbourhoods, resident associations, community, arts, culture and sports groups, local business and any individuals or organisations who wish to give feedback, submission or ideas.